Tie plate assembly



July 26, 1955 E. E. MARTIN 2,713,975

' TIE PL T ASSEM Y Filed Jan. 19, 1951 4 Sheets-S INVEN Edgar E Marlirv.

July 26, 1955 E. E. MARTIN TIE PLATE ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19, 1951 ATTORNEY July 26, 1955 E. E. MARTIN 2,713,975

TIE PLATE ASSEMBLY Filed 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet s 5 T I L i i inn Q i 4 3 y &\\\\

1 6| J i 6 ll i 0 .HI l i I w 5! Z /7" i; N Q I D INVENTOR 8Q Edgar EMarfi ATTORNEY E. E. MARTIN TIE PLATE ASSEMBLY July 26 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United rates Patent 0 i TIE PLATE ASSEMBLY Edgar E. Martin, Altoona, Pa.

Application January 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,885

3 Claims. (Cl. 238-297) This invention relates to railway track appliances, and more particularly to a tie plate assembly intended to preserve the life of wood ties.

As is well known, tie plates which carry the rails rest upon the upper face of the wood tie and it is desirable to provide appropriate means within practical limits for fastening and supporting tie plates on ties to prevent looseness and abrading .action of tie plates which is the primary cause of tie plate penetration and deterioration of the ties by mechanical forces acting upon the tie plates.

In ordinary railroad track construction tie plates are secured to ties by spikes driven through apertures in the tie plate at locations on each side of the track rails. During service, repeated vibrations, caused by wheel loads passing over the rails, develop resultant forces acting upon the tie plates, spikes and ties through the rails, tending to loosen the tie plates and spikes thus enlarging the spike holes in the ties. This condition results in the tie plates shifting and heaving thus producing an abrading action of the plates on the ties which causes penetration of the plates into the tie and consequent rapid deterioration of the ties with ultimate decreased tie life. This progressive action is known as mechanical failure of ties.

Due to increasing cost and scarcity of ties for railroad use a difiicult problem confronts railway maintenance engineers in charge of tracks who are constantly seeking an economical and practical means of prolonging the life of railroad ties. During recent years tie renewals have become one of the most important items of railway maintenance cost and even a moderate increase in the life of ties would result in large savings to the railroads both in material and in labor required to maintain tracks in a satisfactory and safe condition for the high speeds and heavy tonnages of present requirements.

An extensive number of devices and materials for securing tie plates to ties are in experimental use and a large amount of research work by railroad engineers is devoted toward correcting unsatisfactory conditions now existing with present methods of tie plate fastenings.

Of outstanding present interest to the railroads is an extensive service test of many designs of hold down fastenings for tie plates and their effect on the maintenance, wear, and life of the component parts forming the tie plate fastenings. This test is under direction of the American Association of Railroads and is being conducted by the Research Staff of the American Railway Engineering Association.

Another test recently completed after many years service on one of the largest railroads in the country included three methods of attaching tie plates to ties. The results of this test conclusively show that with a bolted method of fastening tie plates to ties the penetration of plates into ties was reduced to one third the penetration of ordinary driven spikes or screw spikes, labor maintaining the track was materially less, and the tie life with the bolted ties was actually increased four years. Except for the urgent need of relaying the track with heavier rail which necessitated removing the tie plates the tie life 2,713,975 Patented July 26, 1955 would have been extended for several additional years. The bolts used in this test extended entirely through the ties so that the lower ends thereof were buried in the ballast which necessitated use of electric insulation to prevent leakage or grounding of electrical operating cur rents and therefore in order to renew the tie plates the ties would have to be removed from the road bed to remove the bolts. This procedure would be impracticable and uneconomical for good maintenance and safety conditions because of the ever present possibility of removing bolts for emergency causes with ties remaining in the road bed.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical, economical and depend able method of bolting ties for tie plate anchorage while at the same time providing means for adjusting the position of the plate to prevent plate looseness and the consequent damaging abrading action of the tie plates on the ties. In that connection the invention further provides means for quickly removing or changing tie plates or fastenings without any damage to or disturbing position of the ties whatever, or the use of special tools other than used in normal railroad work.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical fastening unit which is easily installed, and, once in position provides metallic surfaces contacting the bottom surface of the tie plate to provide rigid plate supporting surfaces which resist penetration of the plate into the tie.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be better understood from the accompanying description and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the application of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the tie plate supporting means;

Figure 4 is another exploded perspective view of the tie plate and'tie illustrating more clearly the different diameter sockets provided in the tie;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a tie plate assembly with a modified form of tie plate support and anchor;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As will be observed from Figure l, the wood tie T" supports the tie plate assembly designated generally as A and comprising the tie plate 1 of conventional form upon which the base of the rail R rests and whose base flanges are secured to the tie plate and tie by the conventional driven track spikes The tie plate assembly A also includes the special chafing guard unit having fastenings for securing the tie plate 1 to the tie.

These features will now be described more in detail.

It is, of course, well known that the track spikes S, even though their heads are driven into engagement with the base flanges of the rail, soon corrode, abrade, and thus become weak or bend and also lift out of the tie due to wave motion of the rails caused by passing wheel loads. Except for the present invention the tie plate 1 would become loose or free with respect to the supporting surface of the tie. This latter condition is what causes the difficulties heretofore described.

In order firmly to secure the tie plate 1 to the tie T independently of the track spikes, the said tie is prebored at its upper face with an upper socket 2 of rela tively large diameter as compared with a second prebored socket 3 of smaller diameter and located coaxially with respect to the socket 2. The pre-bored sockets may be provided adjacent and beneath any of the four corners of the tie plate, that is, at opposite corners, or in pairs, .one at each corner of the same side of the plate. The depth of socket 2 is intended to be such as to receive a tie plate supporting and anchoring member, which, according to one form of the invention may be the nut 4 whose upper face 5 is flush with the upper surface of the tie and, therefore, directly engages and supports the outer under portions of the tie plate 1. The anchoring nut 4 may be round, square, or any other conventional shape, but when made in round or annular form no further operations on the face of the tie are required other than the application of a boring tool. If the external profile of the nut 4 is square or hexagonal, it will, of course, be understood that after the socket 2 is bored the sides may, if desired, be chiseled toconform to the configuration or profile of the outer sides of the nut. Of course, square, hexagonal or other shape nuts may be used in round holes os as nut is firmly anchored to a tie by the drive dowels now to be described. In any event, the nut 4 is provided with a plurality of openings to receive headed dowels or equivalent fastenings 6 which are preferably driven into the tie obliquely to the axis of the nut as will clearly appear from Figure l. The tops of the heads of the fastenings 6 are, of course, flush or below the upper surface of the nut 4, the upper edges of the latter being reamed or countersunk to accommodate the heads of the fastenings as shown. It will thus be seen that because of the angle of obliquity with which the fastenings 6 engage the tie, that the nut 4 will be firmly embedded and anchored into the tie and the heads of the fastenings will be covered by the tie plate which rests directly on the upper bearing surface of the nut 4. Thus, there will be a metal contact between the underside of the tie plate and the nuts 4 which in itself will support the tie plate in such a way as to resist embedment of the tie plate into the tie.

The tie plate 1 is provided with punched openings 7 so that the threaded shank 8 of a bolt 9 may freely pass therethrough and be screwed into the threaded portion of nut 4. A washer 10, which may be a lock washer, is preferably provided between the underside of the bolt head 9 and the upper face of the tie plate. It will now be apparent that the shank 8 of the bolt 9 when screwed into the nut 4 may freely pass into the socket 3 of smaller diameter than the diameter of socket 2 so that ample clearance is provided for tightening the bolt 9 relative to the nut 4 which is firmly anchored in the socket 2 by the cocked dowels or fastenings 6.

As shown in the drawing, it will be seen that the arrangement just described may be used under both sides of the tie plate, preferably at opposite corners thereof as will be seen from Figure 2 or in duplicate arrangement on each side of the tie plate preferably at the four corners of the tie plate. This arrangement prevents relative movement between the tie plate and tie but at the same time preserves the capacity of the wood tie to be compressed beneath the rail. Since the nut 4, in each instance, is anchored to the tie it will thus be seen that the bolts 9 firmly anchor the tie plate to the nuts 4 so that the tie plate cannot move or heave.

I The present invention has numerous advantages. For example, the bolt fastening of tie plates to ties prevents entrance of moisture, dirt, or other foreign substance between the tie plate and tie and into the pre-bored holes and bolting assembly thus providing a sealing protection against decay and disintegration of the wood and the corrosion of the fastening members and underside of tie plates. By obtaining this protection actual service conditions have shown an important relation to increased life of ties, plates, and fastenings and resultant savings in material and maintenance labor. Also this arrangement assists in the prevention of signal failures through leakage or grounding of electrical operating currents from rail through tie plates and ties to the road bed where stub ends of broken'spikes in ordinary use have been driven or vibrated through the surface of the underside of ties into the balast.

The pre-boring of ties with two different diameter openings is a simple operation as is likewise the placing of the nut whose upper surface is flush with the upper face of the tie and serves to support the outer edges of the tie plate, the said nut, in turn being firmly secured to the tie by easily inserted dowels or equivalent fastenings.

It will, of course, be understood that many combinations may be resorted to, such for example, as a series of nuts round, square or of other designs, including a countersunk bar under the outer edges of the plate throughout or partially throughout its length, for the same purpose, all supporting members to be countersunk and brought flush with the surface of the tie.

For example, referring to Figures 57, the anchoring nut 4 of whatever shape, may also take the form of the bar referred to above. In this embodiment, the tie is dapped to form countersunk slots 11 extending transversely of the tie to receive the bars 4a.

In connection with the countersunk slots or elongated socketsll which like the corresponding part in Figures 1-4, it may be pointed out that they are dapped to a depth equal to thickness of the bolting bar member for the entire transverse width of the tie and then the bottoms thereof are medially pre-bored with a hole or socket of sufiicient depth and diameter, designated as 11a to receive the bolt and allow for future tightening and adjusting of the bolt. The bars 4a are disposed in said slots under each opposite edge of the tie plate. The upper surfaces of the bars are flush with the upper face of the tie. The said bars are also provided with a threaded medially located hole 12 intended to register with the hole or socket 11a in the tie. The bars 4a are secured in the slots 11 by driven dowels 13 which are inserted in appropriate angularly disposed holes in the bars. The tops of the drilled holes which receive the dowels are countersunk to fit the flared end of the driven dowels, and, as shown in Figure 6, are arranged in staggered relation.

The tie plate 1a of Figures 5 to 7 is secured to the bars 4a by the threaded shanks Sa thereof engaging the related threaded hole in the bar, and the heads 9a of the fastenings engage against the lock washer 10a in the same fashion as in Figure l.

The bolted bar assembly shown in Figures 5 to 7, inclusive, provides for continuous and uniform bearing under the edges of the tie plate and provides a very secure and rigid attachment of the bolted assembly into the dapped portions of the tie. The bolting can be accomplished at the center of the plate as shown or at diagonal corners of the plate. On the other hand, the bolting may be accomplished at each end of the tie plate after the same fashion as provided for with the nut arrangement of Figures 1 to 4.

The arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 7 has the advantage of further prolonging the life of the tie. One of the serious problems affecting tie life other than mechanical failure is the end splitting of the ties, said splitting originating in the checking of the wood during and after the seasoning process. A large percentage of ties split at the ends and these cracks progress and enlarge into the tie frequently extending throughout the tie plate area toward the center of the tie length. A high percentage of ties are removed for this cause that otherwise are in good condition. This splitting of the ties is minimized by the use of the bars 4a since once they are secured in the slots 11 they act as cleats to hold and confine the wood fibers against further checking or splitting.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides chafing guard means embedded in a cavity in the tie, which cavity is in the form of a socket or a slot, and which guard means is in the form of a nut or bar secured to the tie and adapted to engage and support the tie plate, together with means for rigidly securing the tie plate to the guard means.

I claim:

1. In an assembly for mounting rails, the combination including, a wood tie having pre-formed cavities accessible from the top side thereof, a tie plate having a shoulder positioned on the top of the tie and having its outer edge portions overlying said cavities, said plate having spike openings in the shoulder thereof for receiving cut spikes whose shanks are driven directly into the wood tie and whose heads engage the base flanges of the rail, said plate also having untapped bolt receiving holes in addition to and outwardly of said spike openings, metallic tie chafing guard means confined in said cavities of the tie beneath the outer edge portions of the tie plate and having the upper face thereof substantially flush with the top of the tie and supporting the tie plate, said chafing guard means having a central threaded opening and also having a plurality of dowel receiving openings between said central threaded opening and the outer edges thereof, dowel fastenings for anchoring the chafing guard means to the wood tie passing through the aforesaid dowel receiving openings, and threaded bolt means passing through a related untapped hole in the tie plate and engaging the registering related threaded hole in said chafing guard means rigidly to hold the tie plate to said chafing guard means which is anchored to the tie,

6 thereby holding the tie plate stationary relative to the tie and the wave motion of the rail being permitted by the cut spikes without movement of the tie plate.

2. In an assembly for mounting rails according to claim 1, wherein, the pre-formed cavities are of difierent diameter, the cavity of largest diameter being adjacent the upper face of the tie and receiving said metallic chafing guard means is in the form of a nut and the portion of the cavity of smaller diameter receives the lower end of the threaded bolt.

3. In an assembly for mounting rails according to claim 1, wherein, the pre-formed cavities are slots formed transversely of the top of the tie and the chafing guard means is in the form of a bar positioned in said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 91,893 Woodsum et al June 29, 1869 590,106 Kemble Sept. 14, 1897 776,342 McCormick Nov. 29, 1904 1,081,615 Holik Dec. 16, 1913 1,082,252 Ackerrnann Dec. 23, 1913 1,237,566 Smith Aug. 21, 1917 1,492,365 Fischer Apr. 29, 1924 1,927,389 Castner Sept. 19, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,161 Germany Aug. 7, 1931 10,605 Great Britain a Sept. 23, 1909 

